SSCP: Centre examines alternative alignment

(October 05, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Centre has set in motion the process of examining an alternative alignment of the Sethusamudram Shipping Channel Project (SSCP) following the Supreme Court directive, even as a team of engineers has commenced a survey of the area.

A 15-member team of a private firm is engaged in the inspection of the site chosen, to work out an alternative alignment. They are expected to take at least a fortnight to complete the preliminary study and submit a report, revenue and SSCP sources said.

The team commenced the work on September 29. Though a similar study had been undertaken in the same alignment earlier, it was not completed, the sources said.

The team is conducting surveys at Dhanushkodi, Old Railway Station, Kambipadu, Nadupadu, Aatruodai and Arichal Munai to know the nature of soil, and drilling operations will be done to a depth of 70 to 90 metres. The survey report in turn would be studied by the experts before taking a decision on the alternative alignment, they added.

The Centre had already constituted a six-member committee headed by noted environmental expert Rajendra Pachouri, to explore the new alignment.

A meeting of the experts with the SSCP and Dredging Corporation of India officials was also held in August last when it was decided to take up a survey on the new alignment.

A total of six alignments were suggested since the project was conceived. One alignment chosen was stoutly opposed by political parties, including BJP and Shiv Sena, as it cut through the Ramar Sethu, popularly known as Adams bridge.

The SSCP project, launched in 2005, was to be undertaken in four stages. The first phase of work began at Kodiakarai. Dredging work was taken up near 'Ramar sethu' in 2006 when various political parties objected and a case was filed.

The Apex Court had asked the Centre to explore the possibility of carrying out the project through any other channel in view of the controversy.

The project envisages dredging of a 167-km channel along the Palk Straits, the Palk Bay and Adam's bridge between Sri Lanka and India to connect the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Mannar. This would enable ships take a shorter route between the two countries instead of having to sail around Sri Lanka.- Sri Lanka Guardian